Did Pope Francis Perform an Exorcism?

News have been spreading that Pope Francis performed an exorcism to a young man on Saint Peter Square after a mass last Sunday, May 19. Based on the video provided by TV2000, a Catholic television channel, believers claim that he indeed perform deliverance to a wheelchair-bound young man who is deemed to be possessed by the devil. 

It was reported that the Pope gave the young man a broad smile as he shook his (the young man) hand. But the pontiff’s facial expression changed when a priest came closer to him and spoke a few words. The Pope went more serious and immediately placed both of his hands on the young man’s head for about 15 seconds. 

Earth Hour 2013... More Than Turning the Lights Off

Last March 23, Saturday, the world celebrated the Earth Hour 2013. It was "lights out" for all homes and businesses when the clock stroke 8:30 in the evening on their time zone. Participants turned off their lights and appliances for the Earth Hour 2013. 

For the past two years since my kids were able to understand what the Earth Hour campaign is, we have been joining this significant environmental campaign of saving the planet. As a matter of fact, they were the ones who reminded me of the Earth Hour for this year. And they were excited about it! They even thought of various activities that will keep them busy during the hour when all lights and appliances are off. My eldest son suggested that we watch the moon and the stars while my second son thought of going to the rooftop and watch the last performance of Pyromusical Competition being held at MOA. Yes, we can see the fireworks from our rooftop. 

Happy New Year! Welcome 2013!

Let us start the year right. This blog has been inactive for a couple of months now and I promise to update it as often as I can... and I am starting it now! Let's get 2013 going!

May this year be more prosperous and abundant for all of us. God bless us all!

Filipino Bloggers Hub: A Simple Acquaintance Party

In the cyber world, bloggers are constantly moving in. Thus, blogging has become more challenging because of the various trends that are born from time to time, in every click and tick of the finger. As bloggers pursue their passion, they tend to produce more influential articles and press releases based on their own experiences, observations and opinions. 

Today, blogging has become a good portal of information dissemination, advertisement and online promotion. Blogs provide huge impact and easy access to information as bloggers click the Publish button. From one single click, everything goes to life as readers start to share and like the article as soon as it is uploaded to the internet. 

It is already given that bloggers exist every minute and every second in each social networking site as well as in different blogging platforms while providing their readers the latest news and trends as well as entertainment in their web sites or blog sites. But wait a minute, did all bloggers who read other blog sites personally know the author, or at least have met the author? I don't think so! 

Chef Hasset Go Bloggers Night: The Il Mercanti Experience

Attention all interested bloggers! 

Photo by Dessert Strip. Poster by Gian Pisuena.

Chef Hasset Go Bloggers Night: The Il Mercanti Experience is to be held at Il Mercanti Food Bazaar (Metrowalk) on May 5, 2012 from 7:00pm to 11:00pm.

This event is strictly for bloggers only who are committed to submit a post-event article about the event on or before May 12, 2012.

To sign up, please visit this link.

Celebrate Modern Motherhood at EXPO MOM 2012

Celebrate the best of modern motherhood at EXPO MOM 2012 on May 5 and 6, Saturday and Sunday, 10AM to 8PM at the Rockwell Tent! 

Upon hearing the phrase "modern motherhood", one may ask, "What is modern motherhood?" or more interestingly, "What is a modern mom?" 

Other questions like "What defines a modern mom?", "What does she value?", and "How does a modern mom differ from mothers that came before her?" also arise when we talk about modern motherhood and modern moms. 

Modern moms are active and empowered parents. Below is a list of modern mom personas as we try to encapsulate in simplified terms what a modern mom is. Do you see yourself in any of these modern mom personas? Or are you a combination of different modern mom personas? Read further to know what kind of modern mom you are. 

Pork Adobo: The House of JCJEE Version

Saturday is our Market Day. And when we went to market last Saturday, I bought 50 pieces of quail eggs. It was not included on the list of things we will buy but I felt the craving for quail eggs. Moreover, I also realized that it has been a couple of months ago since we last served a dish with quail eggs on the table. We are supposed to have the regular pork adobo when an idea suddenly popped out of my mind and suggested my husband to add hard-boiled quail eggs to our usual Pork Adobo to give the dish a twist. 

Adobo is a famous Filipino dish. Ask a foreigner who has gone to the Philippines and was served adobo, they will say that it is really tasty and flavorful. Because of the Filipinos' creativity and ingenuity, Adobo now has different versions. The most popular versions of the Filipino Adobo are Pork Adobo, Chicken Adobo, or the combination of both Chicken-Pork Adobo. Some vegetables, such as kangkong (water spinach) and sitaw (string beans), as well as seafood like squid and mussels can also cooked and prepared the same way. 

Enjoy Summer Activities with Ultra Screen MD Sunblock Protection

School is over! Graduation dinner and parties are done. Summer vacation is here! 

After the graduation and recognition days of my children, they keep on telling they would like to head to the beach. But outdoor activities, especially the beach, is not my thing. I would rather stay inside the house than burn myself under the sun. I know how excited my kids are to hit the road and dive on the cool waters and will be saddened to hear this from me. How can I disappoint my honor students? This is the only gift they are asking from me. 

I asked some friends how can I enjoy the activities under the sun without worrying about the scourging heat and its ill effects to the skin. They told me to get the right protection for the skin to get lots of fun under the sun. 

One of my friends introduced Ultra Screen MD Sunblock to me. He told me that this latest skin protection product from Kohl Industries Corporation can help us stay protected so I do not need to worry against the harmful effects of excessive exposure to the sun. 

80289 Returns to Music Museum

Open the summer season with a bang as DIMITRI Productions assembles six of the most iconic Filipino artists of the 80s with the much-awaited and highly-anticipated “80289: 80s Music To The Max” at Music Museum on March 24, Saturday at 8 PM. 

For the benefit of San Lorenzo Ruiz Scholarship Charity’s Feeding and Scholarship Programs, this special one-night only run of “80289: 80s Music To The Max” will be hosted by Franco Laurel. With musical direction by Toto Gentica, the show will feature Lou Bonnevie, Gino Padilla, Jamie Rivera, Chad Borja, Juan Miguel Salvador, and Jaya with other celebrity guest-friends as they pay tribute and chronicle the greatest musical moments of the 1980s. 

Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax: The Red Carpet Premiere on SM-Southmall

When my kids saw the movie trailer of Dr. Seuss' The Lorax movie, they all insisted to see it. After doing my research, I realized what caught their attention. Lorax looked like their favorite local character Iglot! Similarly, Lorax is also a forest creature. 

Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax: An IMAX 3D Experience® is the fruit of collaboration of the creators of Despicable Me and the imagination of Dr. Seuss. The film is the third feature created by Universal Pictures and Illumination Entertainment after Despicable Me and Hop. 

Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax tells the story of the Lorax, a forest creature who shares the enduring power of hope. The animated adventure follows the journey of a 12-year-old boy as he searches for the one thing that will enable him to win the affection of the girl of his dreams. To find it he must discover the story of the Lorax, the grumpy yet charming creature who fights to protect his world. 

The film features the vocal talents of an all-star cast, including Danny DeVito, Ed Helms, Zac Efron, Taylor Swift and Betty White. Danny DeVito lends his vocal talents to the iconic title character of the Lorax, while Ed Helms voices the enigmatic Once-ler. 

How to Create a Website

Fresh out of the university, I received an invitation to teach in one of the colleges in the city. It was a newly-founded school in another city where my parents grew up. I was so excited because I felt I was so fortunate to land on a job just even if I have not yet received my college diploma. 

I taught in that school for two years and I admit I enjoyed it so much that I did not notice it has been two years. It was during my second year in the academe when I realized I have the calling for the academe. I worked for my graduate degree and moved on to teach in a university in Manila when family got in the way. 

I gave birth to a baby who needs special care and we cannot find a nanny for him. Hence, I gave up my teaching career and moved to the call center industry so that I can take care of him during the day while my husband is at work. When he arrives, I will prepare for work and it will be his turn to attend to our son. It was a difficult phase for us. 

The Roof is on Fire!

I was preparing lunch earlier when I heard our neighbor living in the third floor came in and shouting something I could not understand. She was running frantically back and forth so I asked her what was happening and why is she on a panic mode. She told me that a house behind our apartment is on fire! 

I immediately finished the food I am cooking and shut off the gas tank. Then, I went to our rooftop to see how big the fire was. I was taken aghast when I saw how big the fire was! Right that instant, I returned to our unit and instructed the kids not to go out and stay inside the house. I told them the house on the other side of the street is on fire and we have to pack our things, just in case we need to evacuate. 

Without any second thought, I sent my husband a text message, posted status on my Facebook wall, and looked for a friend who is currently online and lives within the area to seek assistance should we need to bring our things out of the house. I would not be able to carry those big cabinets and tables alone! Horace was correct when he said "Your own property is concerned when your neighbor's house is on fire." 

A Scandalous Chinese New Year Dinner at Mango Tree Bistro

After the 24K Gold Senses Facial Treatment at Blue Water Day Spa last Thursday, I went with a blogger-friend, Michelle of Rockstar Momma, to her place for a short rest before heading to Mango Tree Bistro in Trinoma to attend the Chinese New Year Dinner where we were both invited. 

Although it was mentioned on the invitation that we have to come in red Oriental chic, we thought that a simple red top will do. When we arrived at the place, it was already packed with guests wearing either red while others indeed wore red oriental dress. We got both excited as we looked for other blogger-friends and a table for us. 

Experience 24K Gold Sense Facial Treatment at BlueWater Spa

Discover the power of gold. Whenever the word "gold" is mentioned, jewelry and bars first comes to mind. gold jewelry gives glitter and make heads turn. But did it ever occur to your mind that gold can improve your skin and bring out your beauty? You said never? Neither do I! 

So, when I received an invitation to experience 24K Gold Sense Facial Treatment from BlueWater Day Spa to usher the Chinese New Year, I did not hesitate to come and see it for myself. Besides, the facial treatment will be held on the day before my birthday. Consider it as a pre-birthday treat, as my friend told me. 

My Goals for the Year 2012

Since it is the the first day of the year, I would like to make a list of what I really wanted to achieve for this year 2012. I don't make any New Year's resolutions. I don't believe in New Year's resolutions. People have the tendency to break their resolutions, or worse, forget about it if their resolution was not achieved or they have not even started with it by the middle of the year. 

Unlike the past years, I never make any plan for the coming year. It was like "Come what may"... "What will be, will be." Maturity may be one of the factors (I am a late bloomer, indeed!) why I am planning and seeking goals this time. Additionally, the kids are growing; thus, we do not only need to think about the present, live each day as it comes, but we also have to look forward to the future and plan for it. Hopefully, our plans are in attune with God's plans for us. I believe God always has plans for us and I simply rely on His plans.However, I realized that we should also make plans and pray for them so that we will succeed, not just rely and wait for whatever He gives us. 

Merry Christmas from The House of JCJEE

The House of JCJEE wishes everybody a Merry Christmas! 

Christ is the reason of the season. God gave His Son to save the world and redeem us from our sins. 

May all of us find the reason of the season in our hearts and may this season us all success, happiness, and good health. 

Party Time at Victoria Court

I remember two years ago, my husband and I received an invitation from the wife of one of our friends to grace the golden birthday of her husband. Of course, we were more than delighted to attend the event. His wife told us that it will be a surprise party and a private party so we have to keep quiet about the whole plan. But upon learning that it will be held at Victoria Court, I was the one who got more surprised! How can we party inside Victoria Court? 

I Won! I Won!

Last Thursday, I received a message from the event coordinator of Impressca, the restaurant I blogged about last month. The message said I won a special prize from Impressca, based on the review I made on their restaurant after their advocacy launch. I got really excited! 

More than the prize itself, the fact that my writings are read and recognized, it brings more honor to me and I really appreciate it. It gives inspiration to write better as well as motivation to write more. 

Today, I Am Thankful For...

Today is Thanksgiving Day for our family and friends in the United States. I can smell the roasted turkey on the dining table. Thanksgiving dinner is very special as they enumerate the things they are thankful for the year. 

Though I am not in the US, I would like to share my list of the things I am thankful for. In random order, I am thankful for... 

Holiday Runway Picks by SM-Southmall

SM-Southmall is one of the first malls south of Metro Manila. My family loves to hang out here because of its proximity in our place plus the availability of the products we need, which makes our shopping more fun and convenient.

When I went there last Friday, I was able to witness the biggest fashion show event in the South Metro. The Holiday Runway Picks showcased its holiday collection for men, ladies, teens, and kids. Several international and local brands participated in the runway event, including Bayo, Terranova, For Me, Folded & Hung, Payless Shoesource, Levi’s, Celine, Regatta, Fitflop, Maldita, Petit Monde, Just G, Le Jean De Marithe Francois Girbaud, Shubizz, Accessorize, Tomato, Michelis, The Travel Club, Oxygen, Tibal, Onesimus, Our Tribe, Penshoppe, Arrow, Peppermint, Periwinkle, Oshkosh B’gosh, and Gingersnaps. 

The SM-Southmall Holiday Runway Picks showed that holiday celebrations are all about parties and get-togethers with the entire family and friends, starting from day until night, and up to the wee hours of the morning. This fashion event not only proved that fashion in South Metro is very laid back but it also featured the latest collections for the entire family, a fashion that can go from laid back casual to hip and trendy and dressy in an instant.